[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the seventh meeting of the Headquarters for Healthcare and Medical Strategy Promotion at the Prime Minister's Office.

During the meeting, discussion was held on the mid- to long-term goals of the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED), administration of AMED, and recent research and development trends in the medical field.

Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,
“One of the pillars of the Abe administration’s growth strategy is to realize a society of good health and longevity.
Today we have invited two professors who are active on the frontlines of medical research. Prof. Kawaoka and Prof. Sawa presented their cutting-edge research on the development of a vaccine for the Ebola virus, and therapy using cell sheets for the recovery of heart functions, respectively.
I hope that both professors will continue to lead the way in developing new frontiers of innovative medical technology.
On April 1, AMED will at long last begin operation and will provide comprehensive and seamless research assistance, from basic research all the way through to practical application.
I hope that as the first President of AMED, Prof. Suematsu will exert his leadership to the full extent, to ensure that AMED helps create innovative drugs and medical devices, and world-leading medical technologies.
By carrying out fundamental reforms, including the establishment of a system that swiftly enables the practical application of regenerative medical products, the Government will provide robust support for research and development in the medical field, thus ensuring the steady flow of research results like those that were just presented.
By promoting research and development in such fields, we will be able to lead healthier and more fulfilling lives. At the same time, from a so-called industrial perspective, this will also be a great asset for the growth strategy. As such, the Government will work as one and continue to make progress. Thank you.”